Showerheads delivering a pathogen payload

Bathroom showers can deliver a face-full of potentially pathogenic bacteria, suggests a surprising new University of Colorado at Boulder study. The researchers analyzed 50 showerheads from nine cities in seven states that included New York City, Chicago and Denver. They found that nearly a third of the devices harbored significant levels ofMycobacterium avium, a pathogen linked to pulmonary disease that most often infects people with compromised immune systems.

The also found that some M. avium and related pathogens were clumped together in slimy biofilms that clung to the inside of plastic showerheads at more than 100 times the background levels of municipal water. “If you are getting a face full of water when you first turn your shower on, that means you are probably getting a particularly high load of Mycobacterium avium, which may not be too healthy,” said study leader Norman Pace. Symptoms of pulmonary disease caused by M. avium can include tiredness, a persistent, dry cough, shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue.

The study, appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is part of a larger effort by Pace and his colleagues to assess the microbiology of indoor environments. Pace explained that showerheads provide a unique dispersal mechanism as pathogen-filled droplets that suspend themselves in the air can easily be inhaled into the deepest parts of the lungs.

One showerhead in the study with high loads of the pathogen Mycobacterium gordonaewas cleaned with a bleach solution, but later tests on the showerhead showed the bleach treatment had actually caused a three-fold increase in M. gordonae, indicating a general resistance of mycobacteria species to chlorine.

Previous studies by Pace’s group found massive enrichments of M. avium in the “soap scum” commonly found on vinyl shower curtains and floating above the water surface of warm therapy pools. A 2006 therapy pool study showed high levels of M. avium in the indoor pool environment were linked to a pneumonia-like pulmonary condition in pool attendants known as “lifeguard lung.”

Should we give up on showers? “Probably not, if your immune system is not compromised in some way,” said Pace. “But it’s like anything else – there is a risk associated with it.” He suggested that since plastic showerheads appear to “load up” with more pathogen-enriched biofilms, metal showerheads may be a wise alternative.

Related:
Bacteria Hysteria In The Supermarket
Probiotics Touted As New Weapon Against Hospital Bugs
Microbe Colonies Show Sophisticated Learning Behaviors

Source: University of Colorado at Boulder

, ,

Comments are closed.

Fun Gothic SKELETON TOILET BATHROOM SHOWER DOOR COVER Halloween Party Decoration picture

Fun Gothic SKELETON TOILET BATHROOM SHOWER DOOR COVER Halloween Party Decoration

$5.97



Haunted House Blood Monster-ZOMBIE GHOUL TOILET COVER-Halloween Party Decoration picture

Haunted House Blood Monster-ZOMBIE GHOUL TOILET COVER-Halloween Party Decoration

$2.97



Creepy Horror Prop-BUGS TOILET TOPPER-Cling Decal Bathroom Halloween Decoration picture

Creepy Horror Prop-BUGS TOILET TOPPER-Cling Decal Bathroom Halloween Decoration

$4.97



Creepy Toilet Monster--CRAPPER CREATURE--Wall Floor Ceiling Horror Sticker Cling picture

Creepy Toilet Monster--CRAPPER CREATURE--Wall Floor Ceiling Horror Sticker Cling

$7.97



Ceramic Vanity Tray Small Rectangle, Bathroom Candle White Tray, Organizer fo... picture

Ceramic Vanity Tray Small Rectangle, Bathroom Candle White Tray, Organizer fo...

$16.85



Maitys 4 Pcs Bathroom Wall Decor 10 x 4 Inch Turquoise and Grey  picture

Maitys 4 Pcs Bathroom Wall Decor 10 x 4 Inch Turquoise and Grey

$17.87



kitchen bathroom towel Vodka because no good story cute funny drying cloth picture

kitchen bathroom towel Vodka because no good story cute funny drying cloth

$9.99



AIDAIRO ART BOOK - TOILET-BOUND HANAKO-KUN JP VOL.2 (ARTBOOK VO JAPONAIS) [Pa... picture

AIDAIRO ART BOOK - TOILET-BOUND HANAKO-KUN JP VOL.2 (ARTBOOK VO JAPONAIS) [Pa...

$28.99



Bath Towel 24x48 White Cotton Blend Bulk Pack of 6,12,24,60,48,120 Towels set picture

Bath Towel 24x48 White Cotton Blend Bulk Pack of 6,12,24,60,48,120 Towels set

$333.99



Washcloth 12x12 Towels Set Cotton Blend Bulk Pack of 12,24,48,60,120,480,600 picture

Washcloth 12x12 Towels Set Cotton Blend Bulk Pack of 12,24,48,60,120,480,600

$219.99



Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes